Pennsylvania Cops Shoot 15-Foot Snake After Finding it Wrapped Around Owner’s Neck

Police in Pennsylvania shot a giant snake that was wrapping itself around a man’s neck.

On Wednesday, police in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, arrived at a residence located in Macungie, where they found the man already unconscious and in cardiac arrest from a 15-foot—snake strangling him. The man was identified as a 28-year-old man who lived in the Fogelsville neighborhood.

According to NBC Philadelphia, police immediately began shooting the snake, striking it in the head. Police said it was a pet snake that grew too large.

The man was taken to a nearby hospital after authorities pulled him from the clenches of the snake.

“When patrol officers arrived on scene, they observed a 28-year-old male who was unresponsive and lying on the floor of the home with the mid portion of a large snake wrapped around the male’s neck,” according to a report filed by Upper Macungie police, NBC Philadelphia. “Due to the massive size of the reptile (estimated to be 15+ feet), one of the officers was able to shoot the snake in the head without risking further injury to the male. Once the snake was injured from the gunshot, the officers were able to pull the male to safety.”

The man’s condition is currently unknown.